What Is the Big Idea, Anne?!

Well, Anne’s at it again! Our associate director Anne Dunkelberg has been sought out for her expertise on health policy in Texas for a new series of reports by First Focus called Big Ideas: Children of the Southwest. In it, experts from seven southwestern states talk about why we have a record low percentage of uninsured children across the country and how we can continue that progress in the years to come.

Although the uninsured rate in Texas is still one of the worst (if not the worst – depending on what measures you use) in the country, Texas and the Southwest made more improvements in reducing the child uninsured rate than the rest of the country combined. That’s progress!

To continue down this road, we first have to acknowledge that the change is due to the positive choices we’ve made at the state and federal levels. Choices like adding resources to improve the system where families sign their children up for coverage (e.g., more people to review applications, better training, more technology improvements) and making it easier to get coverage (e.g. allowing applications and renewals by mail).

And Anne’s Big Idea for the future, which is included in the newest installment to the Big Ideas report, is something that I think we can all agree on: “What I would really love is to get to the point where coverage is no longer the issue and we have the time and resources to focus on quality and access within those coverage programs.”

Unfortunately, the 2011 Legislature made substantial cuts to Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which threaten that progress.

It’s time to decide: What will we do? Will we choose to protect and promote the long-term health of our entire state instead of focusing on short-term political gains? And that requires grown-up conversations about child health and the importance of a strong, rational revenue system. After last legislative session, Texas’ budget became so bare bones that there’s no room for advancing, much less sustaining, our progress for kids’ health coverage.

If we build on our recent successes (e.g., reducing the uninsured rate and health reform’s protections of kids’ access to care) and have a united voice about the importance of a rational revenue system, we can continue to make real progress that matters to all Texas families.

At the Center for Public Policy Priorities, we believe in a Texas that offers everyone the chance to compete and succeed in life. We envision a Texas where everyone is healthy, well-educated, and financially secure. We want the best Texas - a proud state that sets the bar nationally by expanding opportunity for all.
CPPP is an independent public policy organization that uses data and analysis to advocate for solutions that enable Texans of all backgrounds
to reach their full potential. We dare Texas to be the best state for
hard-working people and their families.